2023 Gabonese general election

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2023 Gabonese general election
26 August 2023
Presidential election
← 2016
2025 →
Turnout56.65% Decrease
 
Nominee Ali Bongo Ondimba Albert Ondo Ossa
Party PDG A23
Popular vote 293,919 140,690
Percentage 64.27% 30.77%
President before election

Ali Bongo Ondimba
PDG

Elected President

Election results annulled
General Brice Oligui named Transitional President

Parliamentary election
← 2018
Next →
All 143 seats in the National Assembly
72 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Alain Claude Bilie By Nze
PDG		 Election results annulled
Raymond Ndong Sima named Interim Prime Minister
Politics of Gabon
Constitution
Government
Parliament
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations

General elections were held in Gabon on 26 August 2023.[1][2] Incumbent president Ali Bongo ran for re-election,[3] representing the Gabonese Democratic Party, which had ruled the country continuously since its independence from France in 1960, including 41 years under Bongo's father, Omar.

Bongo was declared the winner on 30 August.[4][5] A coup d'état began shortly afterward, leading to the election results being annulled.[6][7]

Local and departmental elections were held the same day.[8]

Background[edit]

Main articles: 2016 Gabonese presidential election and 2016 Gabonese protests

The previous presidential election was held on 27 August 2016. On the day after the elections, opposition leader Jean Ping declared victory and said that he was "waiting for the outgoing president to call to congratulate me," although no results had been officially announced.[9] Only the electoral commission was legally permitted to announce results, and the Minister of the Interior, Pacôme Moubelet-Boubeya, accused Ping of "attempt[ing] to manipulate the democratic process," while Bongo said that "you must not sell the skin of the bear before you've killed him." Nevertheless, Bongo's spokesman, Alain Claude Bilie By Nzé, asserted that Bongo was ahead and would be re-elected.[10] Official results were scheduled to be announced on 30 August, but on that date it was stated that the announcement would be delayed by a few hours.[11] Results were finally announced on 31 August, showing a narrow victory for Bongo, who won 49.8% of the vote against 48.2% for Ping. Turnout was placed at 59.5%. The opposition's representatives on the electoral commission refused to confirm the results, and they were therefore confirmed by a vote in which the opposition members abstained. Ping's supporters maintained that the mostly complete results they had independently collected showed their candidate beating Bongo by a large margin, 59% to 38%.[12] Notably, the official results from Haut-Ogooue (the Bongo family's native province) showed Bongo receiving 95.5% of the vote on an alleged 99.9% turnout, an improbable result sparking widespread protests.[13] Bongo, noting that the vote was close, stressed the importance of peacefully respecting this outcome.[12]

Following the announcement of official results, protests broke out in Libreville on 31 August, with attempts made to storm the election commission's offices.[14] Police were out in force and tried to disperse the protesters. The Parliament building was set on fire later in the day.[12][15] The following day, Ping claimed that the presidential guard had bombed his party's headquarters, killing two people. By 2 September at least five people had been killed in the capital and 1,000 more has been arrested. The United Nations expressed "deep concern" about the violence. Along with France and the United States, it called for de-escalation on both sides of the dispute and pressed for more transparent detail on the vote outcome.[16]

Opposition call for fair elections[edit]

On 12 December 2022, the entire Gabonese opposition gathered in Libreville for the start of a series of meetings in view of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections. This meeting, at the call of the National Union, brought together fifty parties, including civil society leaders. The meeting was meant to put pressure on the government to reform the electoral process, and remind the public authorities of the need for consultation with the opposition. For Paulette Missambo, president of National Union, urgent reforms were needed in order to ensure a fair election.[17]

Electoral system[edit]

The President of Gabon is elected for a five-year term (reduced from seven years in April 2023)[18] in a single round of voting by plurality; whichever candidate places first is deemed elected, regardless of whether the candidate secured an absolute majority of votes. This system is thought to be a disadvantage to the fractious opposition, which would appear to have little chance of winning unless it unites behind a single candidate.[19]

The 143 members of the National Assembly are elected from single-member constituencies using the two-round system.[20]

The elections were held using double simultaneous vote system, with voters casting a single ballot for their preferred candidate for president and National Assembly.[21]

Candidates[edit]

19 candidates were approved by the Gabonese electoral congress for the 2023 presidential election.

Party Candidate
RPM Hugues Alexandre Barro Chambrier
PDG Ali Bongo Ondimba (incumbent)
FPG Gérard Ella Nguéma Mitoghé
Independent Jean Delors Biyogué Bi Ntougou
PPG Jean Romain Fanguinoveny
PRC Thérence Gnembou Moutsona
Independent Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga
Independent Mike Steeve Dave Jocktan
Independent Victoire Lasseni Duboze
PSD Pierre-Claver Maganga Moussavou
FDR Joachim Mbatchi Pambo
Independent Abel Mbombe Nzoundou
UN Paulette Missambo
MESP Jean Victor Mouanga Mbadinga
Independent Emmanuel Mvé Mba
Independent Thierry Yvon Michel N'goma
Independent Raymond Ndong Sima
A23 Albert Ondo Ossa[22]
Independent Gervais Oniane

Jean Ping, the former chair of the African Union Commission who received 48% of the vote in the 2016 presidential election, declined to stand, saying "I cannot be a candidate in an election that is a foregone conclusion".[23]

Conduct[edit]

The government announced the indefinite restriction of internet access and a nightly curfew on the evening of the election following the end of voting. The same day, the government suspended broadcasts of French media channels France 24, RFI, and TV5Monde.[24]

Results[edit]

President[edit]

The national electoral body announced on Wednesday, 30 August, that President Ali Bongo Ondimba, already in office for 14 years, won re-election for a third term with 64.27 percent of the vote.

According to Michel Stephane Bonda, head of the Gabonese Elections Centre, on state television, Bongo defeated his major competitor Albert Ondo Ossa, who received 30.77 percent of the vote, in a single round of voting, while 12 other candidates split the remaining votes. The voter turnout was 56.65%.[25]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Ali Bongo OndimbaGabonese Democratic Party293,91964.27
Albert Ondo OssaAlternance 2023140,69030.77
Pierre Claver MoussavouSocial Democratic Party5,1781.13
Gervais OnianeUnion for the Republic3,6390.80
Victoire Lasseni DubozeIndependent2,1980.48
Emmanuel Mvé MbaIndependent1,4120.31
Jean Romain FanguinovenyParty of the Gabonese People1,2720.28
Jean Delors Biyogué Bi NtougouIndependent1,2660.28
Gérard Ella NguémaGabonese Patriotic Front1,2390.27
Axel Stophène Ibinga IbingaIndependent1,1240.25
Abel Mbombe NzoundouIndependent1,0570.23
Jean Victor Mouanga MbadingaPeople's Social Emancipation Movement1,0340.23
Joachim Mbatchi PambouUnion of Forces for Change9670.21
Thierry Yvon Michel N'gomaIndependent8250.18
Other candidates1,4680.32
Total457,288100.00
Valid votes457,28895.34
Invalid/blank votes22,3644.66
Total votes479,652100.00
Registered voters/turnout846,82256.64
Source: Gabon Review

National Assembly[edit]

The status of the Parliament of Gabon is unclear following the coup d'état four days after the general election.[26]

Aftermath[edit]

Main article: 2023 Gabonese coup d'état

After Ali Bongo Ondimba's election victory was announced, a military-led coup took place, which annulled the results of the election.[27][28]

The coup occurred just minutes after Bongo's re-election was declared at 3:30 am WAT by the Gabonese electoral commission with 64.27% of the vote. During a televised morning address from the Presidential Palace in Libreville[29] on the state channel Gabon 24, around a dozen military personnel announced the end of the existing regime, with a military spokesperson claiming to be speaking on behalf of a "Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions,"[30][31][32] citing "irresponsible, unpredictable governance" that had led to "a continuous degradation of social cohesion, risking pushing the country into chaos."[31] They announced the annulment of the recent election, the dissolution of state institutions,[33] and the closure of the country's borders. Internet access, which had been cut since the election, was reported to have been restored.[34] Among the officers seen during the announcement were army colonels and members of the Republican Guard.[35]

Following the announcement of the coup, celebrations broke out in the streets of Libreville and in other cities across the country.[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rédaction Africanews and AFP (27 June 2023). "Gabon: elections to be held on August 26". Africa News. Archived from the original on 18 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Gabon: Bongo promises to "be there" for next election". Africanews. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  3. ^ Mouahidi, Khalid Al. "Gabon 2023 presidential elections: President Ali Bongo promises that he "will be there" – Medafrica Times". Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Ali Bongo Re-elected As President Of Gabon: Official Results". www.barrons.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Gabon's Ali Bongo re-elected president in disputed election". France 24. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Gabon soldiers say Bongo 'regime' ended, borders closed". Africanews. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Gabonese soldiers stage coup, say election lacked credibility". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Gabon: élections présidentielle, législatives et locales le 26 août". LEFIGARO (in French). 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  9. ^ Gabon opposition chief claims election victory Archived 2017-02-17 at the Wayback Machine Agence France-Presse, 28 August 2016
  10. ^ Gabon leader and top rival both claim presidential victory, allege fraud Archived 22 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Reuters, 28 August 2016
  11. ^ Gabon's interior minister postpones announcement of presidential polls amid tension Archived 22 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine Africanews, 30 August 2016
  12. ^ a b c Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, "Gabon's President Bongo re-elected, parliament set on fire" Archived 22 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, 31 August 2016.
  13. ^ Celia Lebur and Samir Tounsi, "Gabon parliament set ablaze after Bongo declared winner" Archived 2016-09-20 at the Wayback Machine, Agence France-Presse, 31 August 2016.
  14. ^ Gabon election: Protests as Ali Bongo beats Jean Ping Archived 11 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera, 31 August 2016
  15. ^ Gabon election: Parliament set alight amid street clashes Archived 22 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine BBC News, 31 August 2016
  16. ^ "Gabon violence: Two killed amid protests over re-election of Ali Bongo". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  17. ^ "Gabon: l'opposition se met en ordre de marche pour des élections « sincères » en 2023". RFI (in French). 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Gabon: Presidential term reduced from seven to five years". Africa News. 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  19. ^ Gabon's President Ali Bongo to seek second term in office Archived 2017-02-09 at the Wayback Machine France 24, 29 February 2016
  20. ^ Communiqué final du conseil des ministres du 26 janvier 2018 (Tout le texte + découpage électoral) Archived 9 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Gabon Actu, 26 January 2018
  21. ^ "Gabon election: President Ali Bongo aims for third term". BBC News. 26 August 2023. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  22. ^ Yves Laurent Goma (18 August 2023). "Gabon: Albert Ondo Ossa, candidat unique et "consensuel" de l'opposition pour la présidentielle". Radio France internationale. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  23. ^ "L'Entretien - Jean Ping : "Je ne peux pas être candidat à une élection qui est pipée d'avance"". France 24 (in French). 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  24. ^ Tasamba, James (29 August 2023). "Internet blackout continues in Gabon amid delays in release of election results". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Ali Bongo Re-elected As President Of Gabon: Official Results". Barrons. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  26. ^ Beaumont, Peter (30 August 2023). "Gabon military officers declare coup after Ali Bongo wins disputed election". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Gabon military officers declare coup after Ali Bongo wins disputed election". The Guardian. 30 August 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Gabon Military Officers Declare Coup". VOA. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  29. ^ Diekhans, Antje. "Nach Präsidentschaftswahl: Militär stürzt Regierung in Gabun". tagesschau (in German). Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  30. ^ Kwon, Jake; Yeung, Jessie; Stambaugh, Alex; Kennedy, Niamh; Halasz, Stephanie; Noor Haq, Sana (30 August 2023). "Gabon military officers claim to have seized power after election". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Gabon: Ali Bongo réélu pour un 3e mandat, des militaires veulent annuler les résultats". BFM TV (in French). 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Au Gabon, des militaires proclament l'annulation des élections après l'annonce de la victoire d'Ali Bongo". Le Monde. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Gabon: après l'annonce de la réélection d'Ali Bongo, des militaires proclament l'annulation du scrutin". RFI. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  34. ^ a b Wright, George; Armstrong, Kathryn (30 August 2023). "Gabon: Army officers say they are taking power". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Gabon soldiers say Bongo 'regime' ended, borders closed". Africanews. 30 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
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